Strawberry Cockle

It’s easy to see how the strawberry cockle acquired its name – with the red spots dotted all over its white shell, it looks a bit like a strawberry!

The strawberry cockle houses algae known as zooxanthellae in its mantle, providing it with shelter while getting food in return. This relationship is known as mutualism, and the strawberry cockle takes full advantage of it. When it is covered by water, the strawberry cockle cleverly extends its mantle out of its shell and exposes it above the water’s surface so that its algae buddies can continue to make food!